U.S. patent application number 16/323020 was filed with the patent office on 2019-06-06 for holding component and fuel injection assembly for an internal combustion engine.
This patent application is currently assigned to Continental Automotive GmbH. The applicant listed for this patent is CPT GROUP GMBH. Invention is credited to Marco Pasquali, Andrea Puccini.
Application Number | 20190170101 16/323020 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56571217 |
Filed Date | 2019-06-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20190170101 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pasquali; Marco ; et
al. |
June 6, 2019 |
Holding Component and Fuel Injection Assembly for an Internal
Combustion Engine
Abstract
Various embodiments include a holding component for securing a
fuel injector to an injector cup comprising: a U-shaped holding
element with two parallel supporting arms for engaging opposite
sides of an annular groove in the fuel injector to secure the fuel
injector in the injector cup; a base part; two resilient arms
extending from the base part for engaging the outer surface of the
injector cup; and a depending leg engageable in a corresponding
receiving part on the fuel injector to accurately position the fuel
injector angularly relative to the injector cup.
Inventors: |
Pasquali; Marco; (Livorno,
IT) ; Puccini; Andrea; (San Miniato (PI),
IT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CPT GROUP GMBH |
Hannover |
|
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
Continental Automotive GmbH
Hannover
DE
|
Family ID: |
56571217 |
Appl. No.: |
16/323020 |
Filed: |
July 31, 2017 |
PCT Filed: |
July 31, 2017 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2017/069303 |
371 Date: |
February 4, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F02M 61/14 20130101;
F02M 61/168 20130101; F02M 2200/853 20130101; F02M 2200/852
20130101 |
International
Class: |
F02M 61/14 20060101
F02M061/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 4, 2016 |
EP |
16182702.7 |
Claims
1. A holding component for securing a fuel injector to an injector
cup, the holding component comprising: a U-shaped holding element
with two parallel supporting arms for engaging opposite sides of an
annular groove in the fuel injector to secure the fuel injector in
the injector cup; a base part; two resilient arms extending from
the base part for engaging an outer surface of the injector cup;
and a depending leg engageable in a corresponding receiving part on
the fuel injector to accurately position the fuel injector
angularly relative to the injector cup.
2. A holding component according to claim 1, wherein the holding
component comprises a molded plastics material.
3. A holding component according to claim 1, wherein the holding
element comprises a one-piece component formed from a sheet metal
material.
4. A holding component according to claim 1, wherein the two
parallel supporting arms comprise a double thickness of material
and the two resilient arms comprise a single thickness of
material.
5. A holding component according to claim 1, further comprising a
second depending leg, wherein the two depending legs are in spaced
parallel relationship, each leg engageable in a corresponding
receiving part on the fuel injector.
6. A holding component according to claim 1, wherein roots of the
resilient arms extend from a resilient web of the base part
enabling the resilient arms to move in a direction of their
longitudinal extent.
7. A holding component according to claim 1, wherein at respective
free ends, the two resilient arms have inwardly extending
projections which, when the holding component is inserted in the
injector cup, engage the injector cup to lock the holding component
in position.
8. A fuel injection assembly having a longitudinal axis, the fuel
injection assembly comprising: an elongate fuel injector having a
fuel inlet port, a fuel outlet port, and an annular groove; an
injector cup with a generally cylindrical body extending along the
longitudinal axis with an upper end and a lower end and having an
outer surface; a holding component comprising: a U-shaped holding
element with two parallel supporting arms for engaging opposite
sides of the annular groove to secure the fuel injector in the
injector cup; a base part; two resilient arms extending from the
base part for engaging the outer surface of the injector cup; and a
depending leg engageable in a corresponding receiving part on the
fuel injector to accurately position the fuel injector angularly
relative to the injector cup; wherein the injector cup has a recess
at the lower end receiving the fuel inlet port; an opening formed
in a peripheral wall of the injector cup receiving the holding
element; wherein the supporting arms engage opposite sides of the
annular groove.
9. A fuel injector assembly according to claim 8, wherein the
holding component further comprises a second depending leg and the
two depending legs are in spaced parallel relationship, each leg
engaged in a corresponding receiving part on the fuel injector.
10. A fuel injector assembly according to claim 9, wherein the
receiving parts comprise recesses in the fuel injector.
11. A fuel injector assembly according to claim 8, wherein at
respective free ends, the two resilient arms have inwardly
extending projections engaging the injector cup to lock the holding
component in position.
12. A fuel injector assembly according to claim 11, wherein the
recesses are formed in a plastics component part of the fuel
injector.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a U.S. National Stage Application of
International Application No. PCT/EP2017/069303 filed Jul. 31,
2017, which designates the United States of America, and claims
priority to EP Application No. 16182702.7 filed Aug. 4, 2016, the
contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their
entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to internal combustion
engines. Various embodiments may include a holding component for
securing a fuel injector to an injector cup, a fuel injection
assembly for an internal combustion engine, and/or a gasoline
direct injection internal combustion engine comprising the holding
component.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Fuel injection assemblies are widely used for injecting fuel
into an internal combustion engine, particularly having an injector
for each cylinder of a multi-cylinder engine in which the fuel is
supplied from a reservoir in the form of a common rail to which
each of the injectors is connected. The assembly is also suitable
for use in a single cylinder engine. In known systems the injectors
are secured directly to the cylinder head of the engine to project
into the combustion chamber. Such arrangements transmit noise
generated by the injection and combustion process through the
engine to the exterior. In order to reduce noise transmission one
known solution is to isolate the injector from direct mechanical
connection with the engine. One solution to this problem is to
suspend the injector in a fuel rail injector cup by means of a
holding element, commonly called a fork clip. The injector cup
itself is secured to the fuel rail and the engine. In this way
there is no direct mechanical coupling between the injector and the
engine components.
[0004] It is possible for the fuel injector to pivot about the axis
of the injector cup during assembly. It is necessary, however, for
the angular position of the fuel injector to be precisely
positioned relative to the injector cup so that the fuel injector
fuel output is in the correct position for fuel injection into the
combustion chamber. In the known arrangements this is achieved by
means of a further component known as an indexing clip. Such
arrangements are shown for example in U.S. Pat. No. 8,479,710 and
WO 2015/135732.
[0005] U.S. 2015/330347 A1 discloses a system, which is used
especially as a fuel injection system for the high-pressure
injection in internal combustion engines. It includes a fuel
distributor and a plurality of fuel injectors. Each fuel injector
is situated on a cup of the fuel distributor. At least one of the
fuel injectors is fastened to the associated cup by a holding
element. The holding element has an at least essentially straight
first leg and an at least essentially straight second leg. The cup
includes at least one recess, which extends through a wall of the
cup. The first leg and the second leg are guided through the at
least one recess. Furthermore, the connection sleeve of the fuel
injector has a collar, which is braced on the first leg of the
holding element and on the second leg of the holding element in
order to secure the fuel injector on the cup. This makes it
possible to fasten the fuel injector on the cup in a reliable
manner.
SUMMARY
[0006] The teachings of the present disclosure describe an improved
holding component and a fuel injection assembly which has less
components than the known arrangement, in which the holding element
and the indexing clip are combined into one component. For example,
some embodiments include a holding component (14) for securing a
fuel injector (4) to an injector cup (2), comprising a generally
U-shaped holding element having two generally parallel supporting
arms (18) for engaging opposite sides of an annular groove (11) in
the fuel injector to secure the fuel injector (4) in the injector
cup (2), wherein the holding component (14) further includes two
resilient arms (28) extending from a base part (16) of the holding
component (14) for engaging the outer surface of the injector cup
(2) and at least one depending leg (22) engageable in a
corresponding receiving part on the fuel injector (4) to accurately
position the fuel injector (4) angularly relative to the injector
cup (2).
[0007] In some embodiments, the holding component (14) is formed of
a moulded plastics material.
[0008] In some embodiments, the holding element is a one-piece
component formed from a sheet metal material.
[0009] In some embodiments, the two parallel supporting arms (18)
of the holding element comprise a double thickness of material, the
two resilient arms (28) being formed of a single thickness of
material.
[0010] In some embodiments, the holding component (14) has two
depending legs (22) in spaced parallel relationship, each leg (22)
being engageable in a corresponding receiving part on the fuel
injector.
[0011] In some embodiments, the roots of the resilient arms extend
from a resilient web part (24) of the base part (16) which enable
the resilient arms (28) to move in the direction of their
longitudinal extent.
[0012] In some embodiments, at their free ends, the two resilient
arms (28) have inwardly extending projections (32) which, when the
holding component (14) is inserted in the injector cup (2), engage
the injector cup (2) to lock the holding component (14) in
position.
[0013] As another example, some embodiments include a fuel
injection assembly having a longitudinal axis L and comprising a
holding component (14) according to any one of the preceding
claims, the fuel injector (4) and the injector cup (2), wherein:
the fuel injector (4) is an elongate fuel injector (4) having a
fuel inlet port and a fuel outlet port, the injector cup (2)
comprises a generally cylindrical body extending along the axis L
and having an upper and a lower end, the cup (2) has a recess at
its lower end in which the fuel inlet port (10) of the fuel
injector (4) is received, a first opening or openings (12) is/are
formed in the peripheral wall of the injector cup (2) in which the
holding element (16, 18) of the holding component (14) is received,
the supporting arms (18) engage opposite sides of an annular groove
(11) in the fuel injector (4) to secure the fuel injector in the
injector cup (2), the resilient arms (28) engage the outer surface
of the injector cup (2) and the at least one depending leg (22)
engages in the corresponding receiving part on the fuel injector
(4) to accurately position the fuel injector (4) angularly relative
to the injector cup (2).
[0014] In some embodiments, the holding component (14) has two
depending legs (22) in spaced parallel relationship, each leg being
engaged in a corresponding receiving part on the fuel injector
(4).
[0015] In some embodiments, the receiving parts comprise recesses
in the fuel injector.
[0016] In some embodiments, at their free ends, the two resilient
arms (28) have inwardly extending projections (32) which engage the
injector cup (2) to lock the holding component (14) in
position.
[0017] In some embodiments, the recesses are formed in a plastics
component part of the fuel injector.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] An example embodiment of the teachings of the present
disclosure is described by way of example with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0019] FIG. 1 shows an example fuel injector assembly of an
injector cup and a fuel injector, incorporating the teachings of
the present disclosure;
[0020] FIG. 2 shows a holding component for securing the fuel
injector to the injector cup, incorporating the teachings of the
present disclosure; and
[0021] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the holding component
positioned in the injector cup incorporating the teachings of the
present disclosure.
[0022] In this description reference is made to upper and lower
ends but this nomenclature is used solely for descriptive
convenience. In the installed condition, the orientation of the
assembly depends upon the particular configuration.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] The present disclosure describes a holding component for
securing a fuel injector to an injector cup. Various embodiments
comprise a generally U-shaped holding element having two generally
parallel supporting arms for engaging opposite sides of an annular
groove in a fuel injector to secure the fuel injector in an
injector cup. To put it differently, the two generally parallel
supporting arms are shaped and arranged to engage opposite sides of
an annular groove in a fuel injector to secure the fuel injector in
an injector cup.
[0024] In some embodiments, the holding component further includes
two resilient arms extending from a base part of the holding
component for engaging the outer surface of the injector cup. In
other words, the two resilient arms are adapted to engage the outer
surface of the injector cup.
[0025] In some embodiments, the holding element also has at least
one depending leg engageable in a corresponding receiving part on
the fuel injector to accurately position the fuel injector
angularly relative to the injector cup.
[0026] In some embodiments, a fuel injection assembly includes a
longitudinal axis and comprises an elongate fuel injector having a
fuel inlet port and a fuel outlet port, an injector cup, and a
holding component for securing the fuel injector in the injector
cup. The injector cup comprises a generally cylindrical body
extending along the axis and having an upper and a lower end. The
cup has a recess at its lower end adapted to receive a fuel inlet
port of the fuel injector. In particular, the fuel inlet port is
received in the recess.
[0027] A first opening is formed or first openings are formed in
the peripheral wall of the injector cup for receiving a holding
element of the holding component. In particular, the holding
element is received in the first opening(s). In some embodiments,
the holding element is generally U-shaped having two generally
parallel supporting arms engaging opposite sides of an annular
groove in the fuel injector to secure the fuel injector in the
injector cup. In some embodiments, the holding component further
includes two resilient arms extending from a base part of the
holding component and engaging the outer surface of the injector
cup and at least one depending leg engaged in a corresponding
receiving part on the fuel injector to accurately position the fuel
injector angularly relative to the injector cup.
[0028] Embodiments incorporating teachings of this disclosure may
have the advantage of a low-cost solution to the known problems
both because of the reduction in the number of individual
components, the lower cost of production of the component, and the
speeding up of assembly. Assembly of the fuel injector and injector
cup is a simple two stage operation; the injector is inserted in
the injector cup, the holding component is pushed into place to
locate the injector in the injector cup and then the depending leg
is clipped into place to give accurate rotary alignment of the
injector and the injector cup.
[0029] In some embodiments, the two parallel supporting arms of the
holding element comprise a double thickness of material, the two
resilient arms being formed of a single thickness of material.
[0030] In some embodiments, the roots of the resilient arms extend
from a resilient web part of the base part which enable the
resilient arms to move in the direction of their longitudinal
extent.
[0031] In some embodiments, the two resilient arms have inwardly
extending projections at their free ends which, when the holding
component is inserted in the injector cup, engage the injector cup
to lock the holding component in position.
[0032] In some embodiments, the holding element is a one-piece
component formed from a sheet metal material. In some embodiments,
the holding component is formed of a moulded plastics material.
When formed of a sheet material, the two parallel supporting arms
of the holding element comprise a double thickness of material, the
two resilient arms being formed of a single thickness of material.
For example, the double thickness of material may be achieved by
folding the material over on itself.
[0033] In some embodiments, the holding component has two depending
legs in spaced parallel relationship, each leg being engageable in
a corresponding receiving part on the fuel injector. In an
assembled state of the fuel injector assembly, each leg may
expediently engage the corresponding receiving part on the fuel
injector. In some embodiments, the receiving parts comprise
recesses in the fuel injector. In some embodiments, the recesses
are formed in a plastics component part of the fuel injector. In
this way, the recesses can be preformed in a mold from which the
plastics component is manufactured.
[0034] FIG. 1 shows an example fuel injector cup 2 for receiving a
fuel injector 4, the cup comprising a generally cylindrical body.
The cup 2 is fastened to a tubular fuel rail (not shown) in a
mechanically secure and hydraulically fluid tight manner. For
example, the cup 2 may have and one or more openings adjacent its
upper end through which the cup 2 is fastened to the fuel rail. In
the illustrated embodiment, the cup 2 has an arcuate cutaway 6
through which the cup 2 is fastened to the fuel rail. At its lower
end the cup 2 has an opening 8 for receiving the fuel inlet 10 of
the fuel injector 2. The fuel injector inlet 10 engages with the
hydraulic connection to the fuel rail to provide a direct fuel path
between the common rail reservoir and the fuel injector 4. The fuel
injector has an annular groove 11 which is engageable by a holding
component 14, described hereinafter, which locates the fuel
injector securely in the injector cup 2.
[0035] FIG. 2 shows a holding component 14 formed by shaping from a
resilient sheet metal material. The component 14 has a base part 16
from which two supporting arms 18 extend in spaced generally
parallel relationship. The arms 18 are formed of a double thickness
material by folding the material over on itself as can be seen from
the free ends 20. The base part 16 also has depending therefrom two
legs 22 which are adapted to engage in corresponding recesses in a
part of the fuel injector 4 when the holding component secures the
fuel injector 4 to the injector cup 2.
[0036] Extending from the base part 16 is a curved web 24, U-shaped
in cross-section, and, from a part 26 of the web remote from the
base part 16, two resilient arms 28 extend to lie generally on the
outer side, but spaced from, the supporting arms 20. The resilient
arms 28 lie on the outside of the injector cup 2 and are
resiliently biased inwardly so as to contact the exterior of the
injector cup 2. At their outer free ends 30, the resilient arms 28
have inwardly projecting latches 32 which, when the holding
component 14 is inserted in the injector cup 2, clip into
corresponding recesses or detents in the injector cup surface to
thereby lock the holding component 14 to the injector cup 2.
Although shown in the schematic sketch of FIG. 2 as straight, it
will be appreciated that the resilient arms 28 will be shaped to
the general profile of the injector cup 2.
[0037] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the holding component 14
inserted in the injector cup 2. In operation, when securing a fuel
injector 4 in the injector cup 2, the inlet port 10 of the injector
4 is first inserted in the injector cup 2 and the supporting arms
18 of the holding component 14 are inserted through openings in
opposed sides of the injector cup wall so that the supporting arms
18 support the fuel injector 4 by engaging on opposite sides of the
groove 11 in the fuel injector 4.
[0038] Thereafter, the supporting arms 18 are fully inserted in the
injector cup 2 until the base part 16 abuts the outer wall of the
injector cup 2. Thereupon, the angular position of the fuel
injector 4 is adjusted until the recesses therein are aligned with
the two legs 22. Then, by pressing on the web part 26 against the
resilient bias of the web 24, the resilient arms 28 are moved
longitudinally in the direction of the arrow A until the latches 32
engage in detents or catches on the injector cup 2. In this way,
the two legs 22 are firmly located in the recesses in the fuel
injector 4 to fasten the fuel injector securely in the correct
orientation.
[0039] The holding component 14 thus serves the function of the two
or more components of the known prior art, namely the holding
element and the indexing clip. The use of the single component
therefore greatly reduces assembly time on the production line and
eliminates a potential source of errors when two or more components
have to be used. It also reduces the cost of inventory and
logistics in transporting compared with using two or three separate
components. Manufacturing the holding component from a single flat
sheet of metal by simply folding and shaping the material into the
component is particularly advantageous in providing a very
cost-effective and speedy solution.
[0040] In some embodiments, the holding component may be formed of
a molded plastics material.
* * * * *